Means for separating diamagnetic from ferromagnetic and paramagnetic coins and discs

ABSTRACT

A coin separator which actively controls the rolling of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic from diamagnetic coins by the placement of a magnet in the floor of a subsidiary coin chute leading at an angle from a main coin chute. Ferromagnetic and paramagnetic coins rolling down the main coin chute encounter the field of the magnet, and in rolling motion are caused to turn into the subsidiary coin chute. Diamagnetic coins, not being attracted by the magnet field, continue down the main coin chute.

United States Patent Inventors Harry J. Lajeunesse 91 Village Green P.O. Box 1306, Stittsville,S.S. 04, Ontario;

Tadeusz Pecak, 750 Notre Dame Drive, London, Ontario, Canada Feb. 7, 1969 Apr. 20, 1971 Northem Electric Company Limited Montreal, Quebec, Canada Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee MEANS FOR SEPARATING DIAMAGNETIC FROM FERROMAGNETIC AND PARAMAGNETIC COINS AND DISCS 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 194/101 Int. Cl G071 3/02 Field of Search 194/ 101 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,956,066 4/1934 Gottfried 194/101X 2,076,862 4/1937 Patzer l94/l01X Primary Examiner--Stanley H. Tollberg AttorneyCurphey and Erickson ABSTRACT: A coin separator which actively controls the rolling of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic from diamagnetic coins by the placement of a magnet in the floor of a subsidiary coin chute leading at an angle from a main coin chute. Ferromagnetic and paramagnetic coins rolling down the main coin chute encounter the field of the magnet, and in rolling I motion are caused to turn into the subsidiary coin chute.

Diamagnetic coins, not being attracted by the magnet field, continue down the main coin chute.

" PATENTEU AFR20 l97l ENVENTORS TADEUSZ PECAK HARRY J. LAJEUNESSE BY 9 5mm PATENT AGENTS MEANS FOR SEPARATING DIAMAGNETIC FROM FERROMAGNEIIC AND I'ARAMAGNETIC COINS AND DISCS This invention relates to a coin separator which distinguishes between and separates diamagnetic coins or discs from ferromagnetic or paramagnetic coins or discs.

Coin-operated vending machines and the like require that the denomination of coins be ascertained and that fake coins or slugs be rejected. One standard check is to investigate the magnetic qualities of a coin and to perform a value distinguishing function on the basis of predetermined knowledge of this parameter. An example of an apparatus for achieving this requirement is the coin acceptor which must accept nickels, dimes, and quarters in a mix of silver, pure nickel, cupro-nickel, and cupro-nickel-copper laminate material, while rejecting copper, iron or steel, impure nickel, and false coins made of other materials.

As diamagnetic materials such as silver are effected by an eddy current, but are not attracted to a magnet, a well-known method of sensing silver is to place a magnet in the wall of a coin chute and to allow the coin to spin by rolling down an incline, inducing in the coin an eddy current which interacts with the field of the magnet. This interaction affects the speed of the rolling coin and therefore the trajectory of the coin as it follows a free-fall path thereafter. A pin suitably positioned at the bottom of the path separates the spurious deposits from coins which fall through separate trajectories and thus segregation by the eddy current can occur.

Obviously, ferromagnetic or paramagnetic coins attracted by this magnet will strongly adhere thereto in the sidewall of the coin chute, efi'ectively blocking it. Therefore, a chute of this type must be modified if it is to accept both the US. silver diamagnetic nickels or Canadian dimes and Canadian nickel paramagnetic nickels or dimes of the same sizes in the same chute.

The usual method of distinguishing between ferromagnetic discs, such as are made out of iron, and paramagnetic coins, both of which are attracted by the magnet, is to provide a coin chute containing a precipice with a magnet at the comer of the precipice. The coins and discs are caused to roll over the precipice where highly attracted coins and discs are then drawn along the vertical edge of the precipice by the magnet. However, paramagnetic coins will not be attracted as much and will follow a difi'erent trajectory off the edge, and thus can be separated from those which are ferromagnetic by a pin suitably positioned at the bottom of the chute path.

In both of the above-described structures, a coin is caused to fall through a trajectory. Obviously, in order that a difference of trajectories be easily distinguished, a fairly largevolume of space must be used for the path. The minimum size of the coin acceptor thus depends partially on the required trajectory path. For modern smaller sizes of coin acceptors, it is thus desirable to eliminate the trajectory structure for checking coins, and to reduce such space considerably.

It will also be obvious that as coins are handled by the fingers, deposits of natural oil will remain on the coins, which is ofien rubbed on the insides and edges of the coin chute. After a time, an accumulation of this oil and dirt sometimes causes a gummy residue to accumulate, slowing the movement of coins through the coin chute, and affecting the coin trajectories. This causes inaccuracy and rejection of coins which can result in loss of revenue for the operator of the vending machine.

Accordingly, we have invented a coin chute structure having a coin separation means which does not depend on trajectory for the separation of diamagnetic from ferromagnetic and paramagnetic coins or discs, and thus utilizes a considerably smaller space. In addition, since the separation thereof does not depend on the speed of the coins, gummy deposits which slow the movement of the coins will not effect the separation.

Our invention of a coin separation means comprises a first means, which desirably is a ramp, for carrying a coin oriented in an approximately vertical plane, and a second means, which desirably is a second ramp, for guiding ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic types of the coins, branching from the first means at an intersection. It is preferred that the intersection of the second ramp with the first ramp occur at a coplanar acute angle to the axis of the latter in the direction the coin is to travel. A third means is disposed at the intersection for actively controlling the rolling of the ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic type of the coins into the second means, while not affecting the rolling of nonferromagnetic and/or nonparamagnetic types of the coins in the first means. The third means preferably is a magnetized means disposed within the floor of the second ramp, extending within the floor of the first ramp. Therefore, diamagnetic coins not affected by the magnet follow the first ramp only past the intersection of the second ramp in a predetermined path. Ferromagnetic and paramagnetic coins, encountering the intersection of the second ramp and a magnet extending into their path are effectively held within the magnetic field of the magnet while in rolling motion and are caused to follow the magnet onto the second ramp. A positive strong division between the coins is thus effected which does not depend on trajectory, airgap, speed of the coins, etc.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained by consideration of the following FIGS.

FIG. I is a sectional plan view of the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional elevation of the invention with the coins seen from theirbroad side.

Referring to FIG. I, a sectional top view of a first ramp 1 is shown, with a second ramp 2 intersecting the first ramp. The intersection should be made at a sharp acute angle 3 to the axis of the first ramp in the direction the coin is to travel. The ramp is sloped downward to the left in the FIG. shown, causing coins to roll from right to left due to gravity. At the point of intersection with the first ramp, the second ramp should be approximately coplanar with the plane of the first ramp. Alternatively, the second ramp can slope downward slightly more than the first ramp if requirements of the remainder of the coin acceptor require it.

Within the floor of the second ramp, and extending within the floor of the first ramp a magnetized means 4 is disposed, which should not extend above the aforementioned floors in order to allow unimpeded rolling of a coin.

The magnetized means 4 can be a magnet disposed within a slot in the floor to form a portion of the floor itself, or it can be a magnet fastened thereunder if the fioor is sufficiently penneable or magnetically transparent to allow the magnetic field to effect the coin which may be rolling thereover.

It may be seen that a coin 5 will roll down the first ramp 1 from right to left due to the sloping of the ramp. If constructed out of diamagnetic material such as silver, the coin will continue to roll down the first ramp 1 since it will not be effected by the magnetic field of the magnetized means 4.

However, if the coin is ferromagnetic or paramagnetic, it will be attracted to the magnetized means 4 and in rolling motion will turn and be drawn along the magnetized means 4 onto the second ramp 2. The coin 6 is shown in this position. It is preferred that both the first and second ramps 1 and 2 be enclosed in the first and second coin chutes respectively. The second coin chute which encloses the second ramp may be disposed parallel to the first coin chute except at the intersecting position thereof, in order to make the coin acceptor as thin as possible.

If further trajectory separation is required for fine separation of coins from discs for some additional reason, the magnetized means 4 may extend to the left in FIG. I and form part of the comer of the precipice earlier referred to.

FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of a portion of a coin rejector using this invention, partially in section. A coin chute houses the first ramp 1 which is inclined at a slight angle 7 to the horizontal in order that coins may roll from right to left.

The intersection of the first and second ramp occurs at location 8 past a wedge-shaped member 9. The magnetized means 4, such as a magnet, is disposed within a floor of the second ramp 2 and extends within the floor of the first ramp 1.

It may be seen that a coin 5 dropped into the chute encounters the first ramp 1 and due to the slight angle 7 is caused to roll in the downward direction to the left. As it approaches the intersecting location 8 the influence of magnetic means 4 acts upon the coin if it is of ferromagnetic 5 or paramagnetic material. A coin of such material is caused to move forward past the wedge-shaped member 9 onto the second ramp 2. However, if the coin is made of diamagnetic material it will be uneffected by the magnetic field and will continue down the ramp 1 to the location shown by coin l0.

10 Thus it may be seen that an efi'ective controlled separation of diamagnetic from ferromagnetic and paramagnetic coins has been made, the respective coins appearing in different coin chutes.

2. Coin separation means comprising:

a first ramp for carrying a coin oriented in a substantially vertical plane,

a second ramp intersecting the first ramp at an acute angle thereto in the plane of the floor thereof in the direction the coin is to travel, and

magnetized means within the second ramp extending into the first ramp below the path of the coin.

3. Coin separation means as defined in claim 2, wherein the magnetized means is fastened substantially below the surface of said ramp, and means for allowing the magnetic field of the magnetized means to extend above the surfaces of said ramps.

4. Coin separation means comprising:

a first coin chute having a first floor on which a coin may roll, said floor inclined slightly to the horizontal,

a second coin chute having a second floor on which a coin may roll from the first coin chute, intersecting the first coin chute at an acute angle to the direction the coin is to travel,

said second floor being disposed within the second chute coplanar to the first floor, and

a magnet imbedded in the second floor of the second chute extending into, and imbedded in, the first floor of the first chute.

5. Coin separation means as defined in claim 4, wherein the magnet fomts part of the first floor and the second floor. 

1. Coin separation means comprising: first means for guiding rolling coins oriented in an approximately vertical plane, second means for guiding ferromagnetic and paramagnetic types of coins, branching from said first means at an intersection, the intersection defining an acute angle in the plane of the floor of the first means on which the coins roll, third means at the intersection for actively controlling the rolling of the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic types of said coins into the second means, while not affecting the rolling of nonferromagnetic and nonparamagnetic types of coins in the first means.
 2. Coin separation means comprising: a first ramp for carrying a coin oriented in a substantially vertical plane, a second ramp intersecting the first ramp at an acute angle thereto in the plane of the floor thereof in the direction the coin is to travel, and magnetized means within the second ramp extending into the first ramp below the path of the coin.
 3. Coin separation means as defined in claim 2, wherein the magnetized means is fastened substantially below the surface of said ramp, and means for allowing the magnetic field of the magnetized means to extend above the surfaces of said ramps.
 4. Coin separation means comprising: a first coin chute having a first floor on which a coin may roll, said floor inclined slightly to the horizontal, a second coin chute having a second floor on which a coin may roll from the first coin chute, intersecting the first coin chute at an acute angle to the direction the coin is to travel, said second floor Being disposed within the second chute coplanar to the first floor, and a magnet imbedded in the second floor of the second chute extending into, and imbedded in, the first floor of the first chute.
 5. Coin separation means as defined in claim 4, wherein the magnet forms part of the first floor and the second floor. 